Impacts of School Pressure, Conflict with Parents, and Career Uncertainty on Adolescent Stress in the Federal Republic of Germany

Abstract

This is a study of the association between the success with which adolescents in the Federal Republic of Germany pass through a highly differentiated and stratified secondary school system (i.e., their educational careers) and status insecurity as manifested in both doubts about employment prospects following school completion and various types of socio-emotional distress. It draws upon data from a questionnaire survey of 1,717 adolescents aged 13-16. In addition to school performance, attention is paid to gender and social class background of the adolescents as well as the moderating influences of relationships with parents. The results suggest that status uncertainty correlates with an above-average incidence of dissatisfaction with school performances as well as health complaints and psychosomatic disorders. Social conflict with parents about previous scholastic achievement and future educational plans is an important intervening variable which serves to magnify the effects of poor school performance. © 1992, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.